Democratic Sen. Steve Sodders, of State Center, said Monday that his analysis of state data shows 61 home employees have been fired and added to the so-called "do-not-rehire" list during Branstad's current term.

He says that's nearly twice as many in three years under Branstad compared to the prior 12 years under Democratic governors.

Sodders has long blamed the home's former commandant, David Worley, for creating a hostile work environment. Worley resigned in October.

Sodders asked Branstad to launch an investigation to determine whether workers were wrongly fired and blacklisted under Worley.

More than 600 veterans and spouses live on the home's campus in Marshalltown.